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January 2nd is also the feast of St. Basil (330-379) and his colleague and friend, St. Gregory Nazianzen (330-390). Celebrated for the brilliance of their theological reflections and powerful sermons,
their understanding of the essence of God as RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE
has enormous implications for a contemporary Spirituality of Sustainability.
Invitation to Worship
Christ is born to us; come, let us adore him!
Light Christmas Candles and say or sing:
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Glory to God in the highest
~And peace to God’s people on Earth.
CHRISTMAS MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Christmas Morning Carol .
From brink of dawn to farthest edge Let earth resound let voices sing
At birth of Virgin Mary’s child, The Christ, the long-awaited King.
From Mary’s womb Emmanuel In “House of Bread” at Bethlehem:
The Word, received, a temple made, And all the earth Jerusalem.
The source of food for poor-humankind At human breast is humbly fed;
And draws the strength to give at length Himself as flesh, Himself as bread.
“All glory be to God above And on the Earth let there be peace
To all who long to share God’s love Till time itself shall come to cease.”
Text: St. Meinrad, 1967, adpt. Tune: A Solis Ortus Cardine, Plainsong.
PSALMODY
Antiphon
The Wondrous Mystery, hidden through all ages,
is now revealed to us!
Psalm 18/19a
The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
and the firmament shows for the work of God’s hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes the message known.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the Earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
There God has placed a dwelling for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent,
rejoices like a champion to run its course.
At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;
to the furthest ends of the sky is its course.
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
The Wondrous mystery, hidden through all ages,
is now revealed to us!
READING Wisdom 7:26-27
Wisdom is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of God’s goodness. And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets.
Reflection from the Saint of the Day
St. Basil said: “The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.”
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. The light has pierced the darkness * and darkness did not prevail. V. The Word was made flesh. and darkness did not prevail. V . Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love. R. The light has pierced the darkness * and darkness did not prevail.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
When you appeared in the flesh, O Word of God,
you enlightened all people for ever.
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To Guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
When you appeared in the flesh, O Word of God,
you enlightened all people for ever.
Litany of Intercession
Son of God and Son of Mary, you brought us the Good News of God’s unconditional and liberating love, ~ may we love others into freedom.
Sun of Justice and Brightness of God’s face, ~illumine this day and this new year with the Light of truth that ends the power of oppression.
Suffering Servant, compassion moved you to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and identify with those despised and rejected by power and privilege, ~fill our lives with your compassion.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One, Source of all light and life for all creatures, through your eternal Word you illumined the Universe on the first day of creation, and you enlighten all peoples with the wisdom of love. As we celebrate this Ninth Day of Christmas and begin this New Year, enlighten our minds with the radiance of His Light, that our lives may be filled with his peace who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
May the Word Made Flesh of the Virgin Mary + full of grace and truth, bless us and keep us. Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.